Verizon Openness: Derailing Google?

I've been scanning the Web for other news and commentary on Verizon's suddenly getting the openness religion. Again, make no mistake, I applaud their move to support any compatible device and any application on their network, and I believe Verizon to be the first carrier pickle out of the jar. Any carrier that doesn't jump on this bandwagon will get run over.

But, still, as I noted previously, carriers aren't in business to be nice guys. Modern business schools teach their students how to really exploit opportunities, and that sadly doesn't always take into consideration what's best for the customer. In this case, though, everyone wins. Verizon is going to be the carrier that supports what its customers want to do, rather than restricting them for corporate gain. And customers can count on the flexibility essential to rapidly-evolving mobile computing and communications strategies. Isn't all we really want for Christmas broadband IP in the sky? Merry Christmas indeed.

So, on that cheery note, it's devil's advocate time. While Verizon going Open may be the biggest story of the year (and it most certainly is, IMHO), another big story was Google getting excited about the upcoming 700 MHz. auctions. As I noted before, I think Google is afraid that they'll be steered to the side as their users go mobile, and they could be if the carriers decide they don't want to carry Google traffic. Google almost certainly has very deep pockets and probably could buy up all the 700 MHz. spectrum they want, cost be damned. But wait - if Verizon is essentially pledging to be open, and the other guys follow suit here, does Google really need to be a carrier? Maybe not. They can still be the most popular destination on the mobile Web. And with a huge potential competitor out of the way, Verizon can perhaps buy 700 MHz. spectrum at a lower price. See, openness improves the bottom line six ways to Sunday, and maybe even more.

This is just an idle thought experiment, of course. Google could still become a carrier, just to be safe, or even because they think such is a good business. And they just may. Still, Google has also pledged openness, and, no matter what, that's a train that isn't slowing down.